Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

spare tire holder

November 22, 2011, 04:18:11 pm

I currently carry the spare on the roof with rubber bungee cords holding it in place to the luggage rack which is probably decorative as it just goes across the back and on the sides behind the rear a/c unit.  I made the mistake of taking it off to clean the roof and needed help to get it back up there.  The rigs with the torsilastic suspension are notoriously light in the front.  Mine drives and rides better with a full tank of fuel, full tank of freshwater and full tank of propane as all are forward of the steer axle.  I had the bright idea to fabricate or if there is such an animal, purchase a 22.5" spare tire holder and cover for engineering it somehow onto the front of the coach.  Anyone with my generation of coach ever hear or see such a thing?  I'm sure it wouldn't look pretty but it would kill two birds with one stone.

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Reply #1 – November 22, 2011, 04:19:14 pm

meant to say tanks are forward or near to front steer axle.

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Reply #2 – November 22, 2011, 04:46:38 pm

Dwayne,

We have ours in the compartment on our U300. Have been under the front bunch of times trying to figure out a way to install a VW Vanagon type spare tire holder under the front but looks just a bit too small for a 295/22.5.

Looks like you would need a crane to get it off the roof. Pretty good surprise when the AAA guy arrives to change it.

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Reply #3 – November 22, 2011, 04:50:03 pm

Dwayne,

No room under the front to do that on yours/ours-- at least I couldn't figure out how to do it.  If you figure it out, let me know.

 On the 1995 U240 with wide body, yes.

When we go to Mexico (where the 255/80R22.5 is a very odd size) I carry a spare tire (unmounted) on the roof.  Dianne made a Sunbrella cover for it-- same color as our awning fabric.

Brett

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Reply #4 – November 22, 2011, 06:44:25 pm

Getting it down is the easy part... I could fling that puppy quite a ways...

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Reply #5 – November 22, 2011, 10:30:21 pm

I didn't manage to fling it too far Dave...almost slid it down the side of the coach.  Brett: I looked under and figured that a mount welding to framing that zigzaged under the nose, back up and over to the beams at either side would work if one had access to a very imaginative welder.

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Reply #6 – November 23, 2011, 09:41:55 am

Look forward to hearing of your success.

I couldn't find a place wide enough to get the tire high enough for reasonable approach clearance.

Brett

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Reply #7 – November 23, 2011, 09:48:28 am

For those still interested in the roof solution, add a cross bar to the top of your ladder with a pulley. With that, it would be very easy to raise and lower the tire...

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Reply #8 – November 24, 2011, 10:41:01 am

One of those pulleys that CW sells for lifting motorhome covers.

But I'd want to modify it to lift higher than what it does.  But the basic design is there.  Maybe adapt one of the ones used on the back of a pickup.

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Reply #9 – November 24, 2011, 01:14:52 pm

I think something on a gin-pole that you can clamp to the side of the ladder but that extends upwards higher than the coach roof would be an improvement on this. I think I'll be checking Harbor Freight to see how much their electric hoists weigh.

Craig

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Reply #10 – November 24, 2011, 02:05:55 pm

Considering that our ladders are rated for about 200 # max, I would be leery of trying to hoist a tire to the roof.  Just my opinion.
Gary B

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Reply #11 – November 24, 2011, 02:11:07 pm

I don't care for the weight or hassle of carrying spare and tools, unless I was going 200 miles from service. Fresh tires, aired up, and a road service agreement @ about $70 per year gives me enough peace of mind.

I am 59 and was in the tire business in the 70's. Changed and fixed more than my share of truck tires already, leave it to others now, with a nice tip for them when finished.

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